Answers in lockdown

Last summer we received over 400 questions on a postcard. We selected 100 postcards and sent each one to a different philosopher around the world.

We now have all the answers! We were hoping to send out the postcards in March 2020, but due to the pandemic we have decided to keep them safe in our postbox until it's safe to venture out. We will publish all 100 questions and answers here once all the replies have been posted.

Our philosophers will be writing their replies on ten specially commissioned postcards. Take a look at the designs as they come in... the latest postcard is by Deborah Bower.

About the project

To celebrate the centenary of the birth of Iris Murdoch, An Post are releasing a commemorative stamp of this iconic Dublin-born philosopher and author.

An Post have partnered with In Parenthesis to bring you Philosophy by Postcard, a public philosophy project introducing #slowphilosophy and celebrating Iris Murdoch.

Iris Murdoch was born on Blessington Street, Dublin. Between July and September 2019 we invited you to send a postcard to Iris Murdoch. 100 postcards will receive an individual reply from a philosopher. Their #philosophybypostcard will be on one of our limited edition, artist-designed, cards complete with a beautiful special edition Iris Murdoch stamp.